Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

The Misfit

Surprised? This might not work so well with a non-religious reading of the story, but if you do take the grandmother's dying grace seriously, then the Misfit is indirectly responsible for her magic moment. Or rather, the grace working through him is responsible.

The Misfit poses a challenge to the grandmother's run-of-the-mill faith because he realizes what's at stake in religion in a way she doesn't. Of course, The Misfit also challenges the grandmother by threatening her with death. In both respects, it is The Misfit who puts her in a situation where she is shaken and humbled enough to receive grace. The Misfit acknowledges this when he says that the grandmother would have been a good woman if he'd been there to shoot her all the time.